Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee
Convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayedee on Tuesday sought postponement on hearing of his appeal against the death penalty awarded to him by a special tribunal.
Rejecting his adjournment plea, the five-member bench of Appellate Division of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain started hearing on the appeal.
International Crimes Tribunal-1, set up to deal with the crimes against humanity cases, on February 28 sentenced the Jamaat nayeb-e-ameer to death for his wartime offences during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.
Sayedee was found guilty on eight charges out of the 20 levelled against him by the ICT.
He was given death penalty in connection with two charges out of the eight.
On March 28, Sayedee filed the appeal with the Supreme Court seeking acquittal of all the eight charges.
On the same day, the government also filed an appeal with the same court seeking capital punishment for Sayedee on each of six crimes against humanity charges he was found guilty but not sentenced by the tribunal.
Earlier on September 17, the apex court fixed September 24 (today) to start the hearing on the appeal.
Sayedee submitted the time petition at the beginning of the Tuesday’s proceedings.
In the petition, he sought time for seven days saying that he has appointed Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, a senior lawyer, and he (lawyer) needs the time for his preparation.
During the hearing, Sayedee’s chief counsel Abdur Razzaq placed the historical background of the crimes against humanity cases against Sayedee.
He also read out from 21 pages out of a 100-page judgment.
The apex court concluded today’s proceedings and fixed tomorrow for resuming further hearing on the appeal.
Source: The Daily Star
